Editor’s note: This is the first story in a five-part community pharmacy series covering College of Pharmacy alumni who operate independent pharmacies in rural or underserved communities across Tennessee.
Derek Holyfield, PharmD, CEO of West Tennessee Pharms, and his co-owners witnessed pharmacies and other health care facilities move away from rural areas of Tennessee, leading to empty buildings and a loss of the relationships with health care professionals in the communities.
Concerned about the health care of the rural communities often left behind, Dr. Holyfield and his partners founded West Tennessee Pharms, combining their resources to found or reopen independent pharmacies in areas with limited availability to health care. This group of locally owned community pharmacies in West Tennessee, reaching towns including Alamo, Greenfield, Dyer, Trenton, Kenton, Brownsville, Bells, and Medina, serve as a beacon of hope in rural areas, often serving as the sole pharmacy in town.
West Tennessee Pharms is not just a network of pharmacies; it is a personal commitment to the community. Dr. Holyfield, along with co-owners and fellow UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy alums Greg Emison, PharmD; Kelly Weaver, PharmD; Jenny Hopper, PharmD; and Brian Whitby, PharmD, embody this commitment.
“We invest in these small towns because they’ve invested in us. It’s a very reciprocal situation. People want to come to us, and we want to be there for them,” Dr. Holyfield says.
Providing health care to rural patients comes with its challenges. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 46 million Americans, over 15% of the population, reside in rural areas. Studies by the CDC show individuals in rural America experience more health care disparities than those in urban areas. Due to their typical older age and long travel distances to health care centers, these populations face higher risks of illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Pharmacies like those in West Tennessee Pharms provide essential care to these underserved areas.
Dr. Hopper, co-owner of West Tennessee Pharms and pharmacist in charge at Raines Pharmacy, attended UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy intending to run a community pharmacy, helping those in small communities like the one she grew up in. The independence of owning her pharmacy allows her to make more efficient professional decisions in collaboration with local providers. “Most important to me is knowing and calling my patients by name when they walk through the door,” she explains. “Our goal is not to make a huge profit, but to truly care for the people in our communities with compassion they may not see elsewhere.”
“We’ve chosen to be in these smaller towns and pharmacies to have the freedom to have more patient time. It’s about building relationships with people. When people are comfortable enough to show you their worst health conditions, you know you are trusted to care for them,” Dr. Holyfield adds. “As pharmacists, people seek help because sometimes it’s hard to get to a doctor or nurse practitioner. I may not have all the answers, but I can at least hear their concerns and point them in a good direction.”
As Dr. Holyfield explains, the College of Pharmacy instilled a personal commitment to care that guides his daily life, transforming the lives of those often overlooked. “To care for a patient, you must be there to listen and support them. The UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy laid a strong foundation of patient-centered care for me and my fellow pharmacists, enabling us to excel in any pharmacy field,” Dr. Holyfield says.
West Tennessee Pharms’ commitment to building lasting relationships that improve patient well-being exemplifies pharmacists’ ability to serve their communities with compassion, ingenuity, and dedication. West Tennessee Pharm will continue to make a significant difference in rural Tennessee, serving as a testament to the invaluable impact of community-focused health care.
This story was originally featured in the Fall 2024 issue of the College of Pharmacy Magazine. If you have a story to tell about making a difference in your community or would like to highlight your community pharmacy, contact Nathan Ball, communications and marketing manager for the College of Pharmacy, at nball2@uthsc.edu.